As soon as USB 3.2 is launched, USB 4.0 is already announced, enabling twice as fast transfer rates. Somewhat confusing is that the latest standard already exists longer than the older one. But there is a good explanation for that.
With the advent of USB 3.1, users need to be very careful to find out how fast the interface behind a USB-C port can transfer data. For what used to be USB 3.0 was first renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1 and is now referred to as USB 3.2 Gen 1, since USB 3.2 was launched , officially called USB 3.2 2×2. And as if the confusion with that would not be big enough, you have now also USB 4.0 announced.
Intel invented it
This is not a further development of USB 3.2. The standard behind the brand new interface already exists longer than its most recent predecessor. In essence, USB 4.0 is nothing more than Thunderbolt 3, an interface that emerged from a collaboration between Intel and Apple.
Thunderbolt 3 ports are no longer found only on Mac machines, but also on high quality Windows laptops. However, Intel has collected royalties so far, which slowed down the spread of the interface. But now the chip maker of USB Promoter Group has handed over the Thunderbolt-3 protocol for free use , and this has immediately announced USB 4.0, which will basically offer the same functions. This means that the interface can transmit data at up to 40 gigabits per second (Gbps) twice as fast as USB 3.2 2×2.
Backwards compatible
The exact specifications of USB 4.0 are yet to be released, but it is already clear that the new interface will be backwards compatible to USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3. The USB Promoter Group wants to announce the final specifications after its developer days mid-year.
First devices with USB 4.0 ports should follow quite quickly, because manufacturers are not only the license fees. The new Intel chips of the Ice Lake generation are said to have integrated Thunderbolt 3. So far, an additional chip was needed for this, which made the interface more expensive.
Whether the USB Implementers Forum renames the older generations again with the introduction of USB 4.0, is still open. But one may assume that this will not happen and the confusion with the new standard will find a – provisional – end.